Jared Goff remains firmly entrenched as the Detroit Lions’ starting quarterback, but one ESPN analyst has floated a surprising scenario that could eventually force the team to consider a major change.
Detroit enters the 2026 season with high expectations after building a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl. However, Dan Graziano believes a second straight postseason miss could potentially change the direction of the franchise.
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Writing for ESPN, Graziano recently looked at potential quarterback landing spots for 2027 and included an intriguing possibility involving the Lions.
Graziano acknowledged that Goff has delivered largely what Detroit hoped for since joining the team in the Matthew Stafford trade. Still, he outlined a scenario in which injuries and offensive struggles derail the Lions’ season.
“Long-shot outcome: The defensive injuries are too much to overcome, and Goff and the offense hit a snag. The Lions fail to take advantage of that soft schedule and miss the playoffs for the second year in a row,” Graziano said.
If that happens, Graziano believes Detroit could become frustrated with its inability to capitalize on what appeared to be a Super Bowl window.
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He suggested the Lions could then move on from Goff and pursue an established veteran quarterback whose situation had fallen apart elsewhere, specifically mentioning Baker Mayfield or Jalen Hurts.
“Frustrated by their inability to cash in on what seemed like a Super Bowl window, the Lions decide to break things up,” Graziano added. “They move on from Goff and bring in a veteran whose situation elsewhere fell apart, such as Baker Mayfield or Jalen Hurts.”
The idea of Hurts in Detroit would certainly turn heads.
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The former Super Bowl MVP would give the Lions a completely different dimension at quarterback because of his ability to make plays both through the air and on the ground. However, such a move would require a major shift in Philadelphia before it could even become realistic.
Mayfield is another intriguing possibility. His aggressive playing style and leadership could fit the culture Dan Campbell has built in Detroit.
Both scenarios, however, are highly dependent on circumstances that are difficult to predict this far ahead.
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Despite the speculation, replacing Goff is still an extremely unlikely outcome. Goff is under contract through 2028 on a top-market extension and has established himself as the leader of Detroit’s offense.
He owns a 48-33-1 record as the Lions’ starter and has already helped the franchise win two NFC North titles. According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, Goff posted an impact score of 81.9 last season, ranking seventh in the league.
Moving on from him before 2027 would also create significant financial complications.
More importantly, Goff has earned the trust of Campbell and his teammates during Detroit’s recent rise. That’s why Graziano labeled his scenario a “long shot.”
For now, Goff remains firmly in Detroit’s plans. However, another missed playoff season in 2026 could force the Lions to consider major changes.
